Good to see a lot of variations of the bike. Anyone know the paint code for the blue frames. I would consider a full respray but the decals do add a touch to these bikes, so maybe just try and touch it up.

As late as 2007/08! i’d have thought it was earlier.
maybe it wasnt the first 853 frame – i seem to recall there was lots of options, geared, SS, colour options too.

yes, its a blue one and sure its 16″ size frame.

Thanks

Bike had been stored for a year or two with only little use.
After a little fettle it looks like its just the front brake.
I’ll get them bled and see if that helps.

I’ve bought 6o’clock gin and the tonic after a previous recommendation on STW.
I’ve just bought some Strathearn Heather rose Gin, which is coloured a bit like whiskey, cant comment yet, but will do when it arrives.

we’re fans of Aldi, but also Millers and Blackwood and Plymouth.

However, i’ve never really thought much about the tonic, price difference between schweppes and own brands is a lot. I am starting to find G+T too sweet, so i might give some of these other tonics listed above a try.

There is a new bar/brewery in glasgow where you can rent the equipment and brew your own. they will even help you with the recipe design.

drygate.com

OP, that happen to me when i was about 8yo. but it went in sharp end first and snapped at the skin to leave just a dot on my foot, no-one could understand why i was in so much pain, went into about the bone. because it snapped it wasn’t possible to grip the needle to pull it out. went to a+e and the had to slice my foot to get at it, was left with about an inch scar.

prior to the accident, my brother and i had been told to pick them up after our mother had dropped them, so it was our own fault we missed a few.

Having read up a little since my original post, the griffin imic is effectively an analogue – digital converter, it is switchable from mic level to line level input with a usb output.

Ye i get that, but in this instance the LP is not available in any format. its an educational language recording.
i’ll get the chance today to give this set up a try.

£500 worth of Park tools from the first cycling Weekly fantasy tour de france comp. the year Ulrich won.

is Ulrich still recognised as the winner that year, i wonder.

centres would be, if i understand you correct, 8.5 from the axis.

also

did you add a diagram to your initial post?

http://www.mathopenref.com/ellipsefoci.html

does this help

A question or two raised here, does a yes vote wreck the scottish fishing industry ? After all the quota system is surely dependant upon population, or market size ?

Doubt it, it will become scottish waters and therefore scotland will negotiate the quota system.

And I know all the banks are claiming to just be moving the ‘legal entity’ but will all the call centres have to move ? as being in another country would there be an offshoreing backlash against them being in another country ?

all the companies mentioned are already multi-national and operate throughout the world. As the banks have also mentioned, relocating their head office will have little impact on their operations in Scotland (as advised to their staff). believe or not but Scotland has quite a high knowledge and expertise base, and there is some highly skilled jobs in the market place. these will remain because they are there due to experience in the workforce but also due to location of resources, be it natural or otherwise.

I’m surprised you wouldn’t have already considered putting new tyres on for an event. particularly a singlespeed event.
Do you carry a spare tyre with you on events like this.

Last time i broke one of mine, they just amputated it :o(

Dislikes: Garlic, sunlight

How about a wooden stake 🙂

You need to start getting into the habit of agreeing not to buy presents for anniversaries. i just had my 19th, and i got away without even buying a card. (it was a pre-agreed deal, usually end up with useless cr@p anyway)

It’s when they start watching YouTube videos of other people playing Minecraft that you need to doubt their sanity.

most definitely the most annoying aspect of minecraft. sometimes wonder if my kids ever use minecraft or just watch other people on youtube, there is one in particular with the most annoying voice and laughs a bit like jimmy carr. i’ve had to ban this being played anywhere except their bedrooms.

mine were kind off outdoor slippers, but now after i popped them in my commuting bag one day i was on the good bike (time cleats) i need something for walking from the bike shed to the office. i now were them in the office all day.

Am I sacrificing too much of what makes me enjoy driving just to get a family bus?

i think thats what makes MPVs so good, you need to forget the driving experience its all about practicality and simplicity. What your looking for is something you can just open the boot and throw stuff in, particularly a pram.
We had a Fiat Multipla as our last car, and its probably my favourite from cars i’ve owned. looks where dodgy, had no extras inside, but hugely practical. now have a volvo v50 estate, with all the extras, and would change back to a multipla again without hesitation.

I think any of the suggestions above will probably make a good car, i’d probably go for whatever ones offers the best deal at the time.

not very helpful but, i’m sure a google search will throw up something interesting, monza is at the foot of the alps. i could recommend some really good road cycling.
Italy has a similar culture to the uk, sunday morning runs are very popular. go to the local bike shop and ask there. if your hiring a bike ask the hire company (unless its at a park). in the other alps a lot of the ski runs have mtb/downhill runs, and keep the chair lifts open, so woth looking into these.

sorry post is a bit fragmented

I have rapha touring shorts and like them a lot, very office friendly.

but i am looking at swrve for a similar short, i use their long trouser in the winter and they are a good fit and comfortable, so expect shorts to be similar. probably not much cheaper than rapha.

is rapha that overpriced compared to others, it is very good quality kit.

you could call charlie (the bikemonger)

just started taking my oldest along to the a kayak club on the canal in glasgow. they have all types of canoes including canadian, and i think this is a minimum approach before going out inexperienced.
there are weekly meetings and fornightly outings.

my bike

have a look at http://www.ukmoc.co.uk if you fancy a monster, an older model can be had for reasonable cost.

For something sensible at reasonable cost, i like these, but might be a bit to slow.

here

I hope it’s legal to use the hard shoulder for 5 meters, cos I was absolutely busting for a slash, intending to stop at the next services.

i’m surprised being on the road would stop anyone there, i was stuck on the approach to the san gottardo tunnel, and was surprised to see so many just peeing at the side of the road.

I prefer Hiscox, primarily because the do not request items to be named.

i asked them about extraordinary items likes bikes, art, jewellery etc… no need, only thing they ask is if you have any precious metal/jewellery

I just wear a pair of leather gloves, and they seem to be fine in winter too (with the addition of a pair of silk liners), just need a little bit of care from time to time. been using the same pair for a number of years

traditional porridge i have with a little salt.

but i prefer to have oats with a nice apple juice (better to use the cloudy naturally pressed stuff). just leave to soak for a minute or two. no cooking needed.

surely any electric kettle will need a cut-out switch anyway (as a safety device) if you stick a whistle on the top it will only whistle for seconds before the cut-out activates and switches it off.

what happens if you don’t hear the whistle for those few seconds?

It can happen, Ryder Hedjedal won on the final stage in 2012, its a rare giro to have the last day as a competitive stage. I recall the Vuelta had a time trial on the last day not so long ago and the lead changed that day too. I think the TdF like their procession in Paris

I find it strange that the OP can be accused of being pedantic, and is being pulled for using an phrase which (may not be correct) but is certainly an accepted term to describe VED.

All you need is some off those microfibre sponges. Work a treat and no need for xtra strong chemicals

for those who prefer something stronger

I think your making a mistake by dismissing mudguards. If like me you live in the west of scotland, when its not raining the remainder of the time the roads are wet, and this still means wet feet and a wet @rse, and subsequently feeling cold.

Does anyone happen to know of any locals/club rides I could tag on to? I went to Lucca years ago for a few days sans bike, and seem to remember reading about a club ride from a bike shop.

There are a few good bike shops in Lucca and it might be worth asking there. There is a similar culture to the UK (except on a grander scale), if you go out on sunday morning there will be lots of cyclists out.

I had a memorable ride out of Lucca towards Florence, there is a nice climb from Empoli via vinci towards pistoia/montecatini. Go on sunday morning and it will feel more like a sportif due to the number of cyclists.

Stef’s correct, the area north of lucca is more mountainous than the rest of tuscany, so road or mtb would be good. I drive to garfagnana on friday. i have both a road and mtb bike out there permanantly but recently bought a cross (pickenflick) as i know a fair few roads that climb into the mountains but then change to dirt tracks.
but for me i always find road routes a lot easier to find if its somewhere i’m not to familiar with. There is a good train service from Lucca to places like Castelnuovo where you can ascend the climb to passo delle radici, which is a great climb to around 1350m.

i would say that if you are staying nearer lucca a road bike would be better, if you just want to ride from your accomodation, since there is a good mix of flat and hilly terrain.

Also worth a look is the Alpi Apuane mountains, these are just north of lucca between the serchio river and viareggio on the coast.

Saddle position relative to BB rather than crank length are more important determinants of knee pain, in my opinion.

That can only be true in terms of fore and aft position. But it will affect saddle height. the difference in saddle height between a 170 and 175mm crank will need the saddle 5mm lower, but at the top of pedal rotation your knee is going to 10mm above where it would be on the 170crank.
When you consider any bike set-up advice, saddle height adjustment should be done in very small increments.

In saying that, i think alot comes done to fashion/trends, certainly in mtbing its less common to see anything other than 175mm, and i think traditionally 170mm was the norm on most road bikes.

Saddle position relative to BB rather than crank length are more important determinants of knee pain, in my opinion.

That can only be true in terms of fore and aft position. But it will affect saddle height. the difference in saddle height between a 170 and 175mm crank will need the saddle 5mm lower, but at the top of pedal rotation your knee is going to 10mm above where it would be on the 170crank.
When you consider any bike set-up advice, saddle height adjustment should be done in very small increments.

In saying that, i think alot comes done to fashion/trends, certainly in mtbing its less common to see anything other than 175mm, and i think traditionally 170mm was the norm on most road bikes.

I’d try alfaowners website, been a member and its very active. Also, might be interested in how much you are looking for it.